Daily Lesson for October 10, 2014

Today's daily lesson comes from Acts chapter 24 verses 24 and 25:

24 After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.”

Convicts are a dime a dozen in this world; but surrenderers -- those who actually give themselves up -- are rare.

Paul was summoned before the Roman procurator of the province of Judea.  As he always did when on trial, Paul took the opportunity to speak about the salvation that comes in Jesus Christ. But unlike his usual presentations which were laced with Jewish Scripture and doctrine, on this occasion of speaking to speaking to the Gentile Felix Paul spoke instead about righteousness, self-control, and judgement to come. We are told these words convicted Felix, probably because he himself was a corrupt and lustful man, with a thirst for blood, plunder, and wives which were not his own. As Paul spoke of judgment, we are told Felix became alarmed so sent Paul away. "Go away for now," he told Paul, "when I have the chance I will summon you again." He was convicted, but not ready to surrender. 

It's one thing to hear the truth about the dangers of the road we are on -- where it will eventually take us. It's another thing to actually turn around and change roads. That's surrender; and there are very few people who do it. Instead they say, "When I have the chance, I'll think about it again."

Before he surrendered his life to God, the young and sexually profligate Augustine prayed, "Lord make me chaste, but not yet." That pretty much says it all.

Fortunately, Augustine still had time to surrender to his conviction; unfortunately, Felix did not.